The Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) has emerged as a provincial leader in advancing digital literacy and cyber awareness, setting a model for school boards across Ontario. Anchored by its innovative Samaritans on the Digital Road program, the initiative provides educators with a comprehensive suite of lesson plans and communication materials tailored to every grade level. Topics range from mitigating risks such as identity theft and phishing, to addressing the impact of social media on mental health, and guiding responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classrooms.
At the heart of the program is the Student Responsible Use of Technology Agreement, a collaborative activity where students co-create expectations for safe and responsible use of digital tools and AI. The co-created agreement uses AI tools to model the effective and ethical use of the emerging technology. This evolving agreement fosters student ownership and ensures that classroom practices adapt to the unique needs of each group throughout the school year.
Heather Bilder, a K-12 Learning Technologies Consultant with OCSB, emphasizes the importance of communication, accessibility and adaptability. “We’ve created a one-stop shop for cyber awareness and AI literacy. The lessons are embedded in our language and religious literacy programs, and we keep educators engaged by regularly highlighting new resources and programs in the board’s biweekly updates to staff,” she explains. Bilder notes that adaptability is key: “One size doesn’t fit all. Keeping content fresh and relevant ensures success.”
The initiative also integrates resources from Cyber Awareness Month (CAM), a province-wide program led by ECNO in partnership with the Ministry of Education. By weaving CAM’s messages into school-wide campaigns, OCSB reinforces the importance of building cyber-aware cultures across Ontario.
Rooted in the values of Catholic education, OCSB’s approach demonstrates how digital literacy can be tailored to align with a board’s particular values. Importantly, the Samaritans website is open to parents, extending awareness beyond the classroom.
Geoff Edwards, Superintendent of Learning Technologies and ECNO board member, highlights that broader impact: “These lessons are designed to spark conversations at home as well as in the classroom. It is important that we ensure continuity about these important issues between the classroom and the family dinner table.”
He encourages other school boards to introduce a similar program that works best for them, and to use the Samaritans on the Digital Road material as it suits them. “It’s a plug-and-play solution for educators, and we welcome other boards to adopt and adapt it. The work is meant to be shared.”
By combining innovative teaching resources, student collaboration, and leadership support, OCSB offers a compelling model for safeguarding student wellbeing while preparing them to navigate the digital world responsibly.
This article is part of an ECNO series profiling the efforts of Ontario school boards to build a culture of cyber awareness and vigilance. If you know of a school board that is showing leadership in this area, we’d love to tell their story. Share it with us! Email us.